The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 292 Guo Jing's Western Expedition, the Beggars' Sect Assembly

The autumn wind blows across the wilderness, rustling through the yellow wormwood.

Arriving in Zhongdu, one senses the approach of autumn; a slight chill already hangs in the air. The city remains as bustling as ever, with its red-painted pavilions, embroidered doors, and vermilion gates. Carved carriages vie for space, and fine horses gallop in competition. Gold and jade gleam in the sun, and the air is filled with the fragrance of silk and brocade.

Zhou Yan had promised Li Mochou that he would take her sightseeing. The two traveled north from the Funiu Mountains, riding all the way and camping in the countryside, which made him feel quite guilty.

Upon entering Zhongdu, one is greeted by the sounds of music and singing everywhere, with shops lining the streets and alleys, and the cries of vendors echoing throughout the city, a scene brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

The two rode on horseback, and Zhou Yan said to Li Mochou, "After we meet Elder Lu, I will take you to tour the city and its surroundings for a few days and buy some winter supplies for your master and Xiaolongnu. We will then hire a caravan to deliver them to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain."

"Okay, thank you very much, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yan no longer works at the escort agency, and Li Mochou changed her form of address after leaving Funiu Mountain, no longer calling him "Head Escort" but "Brother Zhou".

Li Mochou and her two disciples depended on each other for survival. She had always harbored feelings for Zhou Yan, and during this journey, she received care from him. With her carefree personality, she had long regarded Zhou Yan as her closest person.

They are obedient and compliant, and not pretentious at all.

"How about we head to the security escort agency first?"

"I'll do whatever Brother Zhou says."

"Walk."

The sound of horses' hooves echoed along the long street. The gate of the Fu'an Escort Agency came into view, and two fine horses, one red and one white, appeared in Zhou Yan's sight.

"That horse was quite peculiar; its mane was even redder than Chief Yang's chestnut horse."

"It's Brother Guo's little red horse."

"The Golden Knife Prince Consort"

"Ok!"

The two chatted as they walked along the Funiu Mountains.

Li Mochou spent most of her time in Zhongnan Mountain, focusing on cultivation. Zhou Yan, on the other hand, spent ninety percent of his time traveling. So Li Mochou listened more and spoke less. Zhou Yan also told her about the Fu'an Escort Agency and the people he often came into contact with.

When Zhou Yan mentioned Guo Jing, Li Mochou naturally recalled his identity: he was a disciple of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, had been taught martial arts by Ma Yu of the Quanzhen Sect, and was also the son-in-law of the Great Khan of Mongolia.

When the porters saw the "Jade Lion Under the Night" in the distance, they shouted with joy, "Master Zhou is back!"

Upon reaching the gate tower, the two dismounted, and Zhou Yan asked, "Brother Guo has arrived?"

"Yes, we just arrived. The Mongolian princess accompanied us and asked about Master Zhou. The chief镖头 (head镖师, head镖师) and镖师 Yang (镖师 Yang, bodyguard) are both here."

"Where are Chief Escort Shi and Escort Master Mu?"

"Master Mu is now the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort). The镖局 (escort agency) is doing brisk business; Master Zhou rarely sees anyone there. Both Head镖师 Shi and Head镖师 Mu are out escorting goods," the porter said excitedly.

Zhou Yan was not surprised that Mu Nianci was promoted to head镖师 (镖师 is a term for someone who escorts or guards). In terms of cultivation and ability, she was more than qualified, and she should be the first female head镖师 in the镖师 profession.

"I'll go in and take a look."

The escort said sincerely, "If Master Zhou wants to enter the escort agency, there's no need to tell us. Just like always, you can come and go as you please. Even though Master Zhou isn't in the escort agency, we will always consider him the head of the escort agency."

"Aren't you going to report this?" Zhou Yan joked.

“If Master Zhou wants me to be scolded and looked down upon by the other bodyguards and porters, taking you to the guest room to report is fine.”

Zhou Yan patted the shoulder of the scout, his eyes slightly moist.

Li Mochou looked at him with a smile, recalling how she searched for Zhou Yan, how Zhang Wangyue said he would arrange for someone to inquire, and how everyone treated Zhou Yan with great hospitality when she went to Funiu Mountain. She thought it was truly remarkable.

She now has feelings of liking for Zhou Yan, and even a touch of admiration for him.

"Take the horse to the stable and feed it for a few days."

"Alright!" The escort happily took the reins of the two horses and led them to the stables. Zhou Yan led Li Mochou straight to the council hall of the escort agency.

"Master Zhou is back."

"The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) has arrived."

The two walked through corridors and buildings, and indeed saw few bodyguards or escorts. The martial arts arena was deserted, and most of the people who greeted them were long-term workers from the security company.

He had barely reached the courtyard in front of the council hall when Guo Jing, Hua Zheng, and two others appeared amidst the yellow leaves.

"Brother Zhou, it's been a long time. I miss you dearly."

"Hua Zheng greets Master Zhou."

"I am the same, Princess, please don't be so polite."

Zhou Yan returned the greeting with a bow, and after exchanging pleasantries with Zhang Wangyue and Yang Tiexin, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Fu'an said, "Come on, let's go inside and talk."

"it is good!"

Hua Zheng was probably bored. Besides Guo Jing and Tuolei, there was no one else to talk to in Zhongdu. When she saw Li Mochou, she exclaimed, "Sister, you are so beautiful. We don't need to listen to what the men are saying. Would you like to come with me for a walk in the street?" Mongolian women are known for their generosity. Zhou Yan was Hua Zheng's savior, so she naturally didn't consider Zhou Yan and his close friends as outsiders.

Li Mochou was a little stunned, thinking to herself, "Why is the Mongolian princess speaking so directly?"

Zhou Yan smiled at Li Mochou and asked, "How is it?"

"Of course, allow me to tidy up a bit."

Zhou Yan said to Zhang Wangyue, "I'll also clean my face."

The two washed their hands and faces, and Zhou Yan took out the gold ingots he carried with him and gave them to Li Mochou.

Li Mochou's eyes were misty. In Zhongnan Mountain, she had always taken care of her junior sister. No one had ever cared for her so tenderly.

Hua Zheng took Li Mochou's hand and left, and only then did Zhou Yan enter the council hall.

As he picked up his teacup, Guo Jing said, "The Great Khan is about to launch a western expedition, so I came to inform the Chief Escort and Uncle Yang."

This was within Zhou Yan's expectations.

Guo Jing continued, "Brother Guo, the chief镖头 (chief镖头) escorted the goods to Yumen Pass. After Ögedei received the goods, he went to Khwarazm. Their king, Muhammad, detained the gold and silver, humiliated Ögedei, and insulted the Great Khan."

"Brother Guo, are you going to accompany the Great Khan on his expedition?"

“Yes, Tolui and Jebe are going.” Guo Jing said angrily, “It was Wanyan Honglie who sent the imperial envoy, and that’s why Muhammad turned his back on us.”

Yang Tiexin said to Zhou Yan, "Brother Guo is currently troubled by military campaigns."

Guo Jing nodded: "If it were an attack on a city, we would be fighting with spears and leading the charge, and we would have nothing to fear. The main concern is that Toleanda and the others are skilled in combat and cavalry. They are worried that leading a force of ten thousand men would not only fail to avenge Wanyan Honglie's father's death, but would also become a burden to the Khan."

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "What a coincidence, the chief镖头 (chief镖头) happens to be knowledgeable in military strategy. If time permits, let's have a drink and talk."

Yang Tiexin immediately said, "Come to my place tonight."

Guo Jing was overjoyed: "Thank you very much, Chief Escort Zhang, Brother Zhou, and Uncle Yang."

“We’re all family, no need for formalities,” Yang Tiexin said, then turned to Zhang Wangyue and said, “My nephew and I will go ahead and make preparations.”

"Okay!" Zhang Wangyue nodded.

For the rest of the time, the conversation flowed casually and naturally. Zhou Yan recounted his encounter with Zhou Botong in the Valley of Heartbreak, and Guo Jing blurted out, "Brother Zhou, how are you doing now?"

Zhou Yan smiled to himself, thinking that the Old Urchin and Guo Jing had indeed become sworn brothers, but he wondered what martial arts they had learned, such as the "Empty Fist," "Ambidextrous Fighting," or the "Nine Yin Manual."

As night fell, Yang Tiexin and Guo Jing left first, with Zhang Wangyue and Zhou Yan seeing them off. After the two had gone some distance, the chief镖头 of Fu'an said, "Brother Zhou, do you want me to tell Brother Guo about the 'Martial Arts Manual'?"

Zhou Yan said, "The Great Khan once promised Brother Guo the treatment of the King of Song. The more meritorious Brother Guo is in the western expedition, the more likely he is to be crowned King of Song. With Brother Guo, once the Great Khan goes south, at least there will be no massacres of cities."

"Brother Guo is kind-hearted, that's true."

"The Eight Formations from the 'Wumu Legacy' will suffice."

Zhang Wangyue laughed and said, "This method is sound. I reckon even the Mongol generals won't be able to learn the art of changing battle formations."

Zhang Wangyue exclaimed, "Great idea!"

The two returned to the escort agency. Zhou Yan briefly explained to Zhang Wangyue the current development of the two strongholds in Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain and their encounter with Hu Yanlei, while waiting for Li Mochou.

……

Willow head on the moon, after dusk.

Li Mochou and Hua Zheng bought some ginseng, polygonatum, and lingzhi and headed towards the Fu'an Escort Agency. When they passed by "Songhelou", she suddenly saw three beggars walking towards them. They were all fair-skinned, and one of them was holding a long strip of cloth wrapped up in his hand.

Hong Qigong had been kind to Li Mochou and the Ancient Tomb Sect. On their way to Zhongdu, Zhou Yan told them about what had happened to the Beggars' Sect.

Li Mochou counted silently, and saw that one of the beggars had three sacks stacked on his shoulder, for a total of nine sacks.

This old beggar was actually a nine-bag elder of the Beggars' Sect. Li Mochou was secretly surprised and slowed her pace. The three men approached, and she overheard some of their conversation.

"Elder Peng, we must win the position of leader of the Beggars' Sect at this conference."

"If it weren't for the relentless pursuit of the Dirty Clothes Faction, Elder Peng would have been the gang leader long ago."

"That's it."

"Among the four elders, only Lu Youjiao belongs to the Dirty Clothes Faction. If it weren't for the fact that most of the lower-level disciples belong to the Dirty Clothes Faction, the position of gang leader would have been easily obtained long ago."

Li Mochou was overjoyed, as she had inadvertently obtained information about the Beggars' Sect, including Brother Zhou and Seventh Master of Tianzhu.

As the two passed each other, Li Mochou recognized the appearance of the Nine-Bag Elder and grabbed Hua Zheng's hand, rushing towards the Fu'an Escort Agency. Hua Zheng felt as if she were about to fly away, and her hand felt as if it were wrapped in a ball of cotton.

"Li's older sister's hands are so soft," Hua Zheng thought enviously.

(End of this chapter)